# Trans Isomeric Fatty Acids in Children and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

## TL;DR

This study found that children and young adults with type 1 diabetes have lower trans fatty acid levels than healthy controls, but those with diabetic ketoacidosis have higher levels.

## Contribution

The study is the first to report trans fatty acid levels in young T1DM patients and their association with diabetic ketoacidosis.

## Key findings

- Diabetic children and young adults had significantly lower TFA levels in plasma lipids compared to healthy controls.
- Children with DKA had significantly higher TFA levels in most plasma lipid fractions than other diabetic groups.
- Negative correlations were found between TFA and n-3/n-6 fatty acids, especially in erythrocyte membranes.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Dietary guidelines recommend limiting trans fatty acid (TFA) intake to avoid adverse health effects. However, the impact of TFA intake in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of TFAs in plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids of young diabetic patients and healthy controls. Methods: Data were re-analyzed from three case-control studies including diabetic children (n = 40, mean age: 12.0 years), diabetic young adults (n = 34, mean age: 21.8 years), and children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA, n = 9, mean age: 16.0 years). In these studies, TFA data were quantified by gas chromatography, but data have not yet been published. Results: Diabetic young adults and diabetic children had significantly lower TFAs in plasma lipids compared to healthy controls (sum of TFA in plasma sterol esters: 0.54 [0.34] versus 0.64 [0.37] and 0.51 [0.13] versus 0.65 [0.29], %, median [interquartile range], p < 0.05). However, children with DKA had significantly higher TFA levels in almost all plasma lipid fractions than the other two diabetic groups. Several negative correlations were observed between TFA and n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in all groups, especially in the erythrocyte membrane lipid fractions. However, in the plasma fractions the correlation was less clear; both positive and negative correlations were found in each of the groups studied. Conclusions: Lower TFA values in young adults and children with diabetes may be associated with dietary patterns lower in TFAs, while elevated TFA values in DKA may be linked to challenges in adherence to dietary guidelines.